Collapsible steering column assembly with releasably attached spring

Abstract

A steering column assembly comprising an upper jacket, a lower jacket, a column mounting bracket operatively coupled to the lower jacket, and a spring extending from a first end to a second end. The upper jacket is telescopingly adjustable within the lower jacket over a range of driving positions between a retracted column position and an extended column position and moveable to a range of collapse positions beyond the retracted column position when moving away from the extended column position. The first end of the spring is releasably coupled to the column mounting bracket such that the spring disengages from the column mounting bracket in response to an impact force which moves the upper jacket into the range of collapse positions. The second end of the spring is disposed within an interior region of the upper jacket.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A steering column assembly, comprising:
 an upper jacket;   a lower jacket, wherein the upper jacket is telescopingly adjustable within the lower jacket over a range of driving positions between a retracted column position and an extended column position and moveable to a range of collapse positions beyond the retracted column position when moving away from the extended column position;   a column mounting bracket operatively coupled to the lower jacket; and   a spring extending from a first end to a second end, wherein the first end of the spring is releasably coupled to the column mounting bracket such that the spring disengages from the column mounting bracket in response to an impact force which moves the upper jacket into the range of collapse positions, wherein the second end of the spring is disposed within an interior region of the upper jacket.   
     
     
         2 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 1 , further comprising a hand wheel actuator and an adaptor, the hand wheel actuator being disposed between an end of the upper jacket and a steering input device, the adaptor being operatively coupled to the hand wheel actuator and disposed between the hand wheel actuator and the upper jacket. 
     
     
         3 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein the adaptor contacts the second end of the spring in response to an impact force resulting in translation of the upper jacket away from the extended column position. 
     
     
         4 . The steering column assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the first end of the spring disengages from the column mounting bracket in response to the adaptor contacting the second end of the spring. 
     
     
         5 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein the spring moves with the adaptor when the first end of the spring disengages from the column mounting bracket. 
     
     
         6 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring deforms in response to the impact force. 
     
     
         7 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring is a rake spring. 
     
     
         8 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein the rake spring includes a curved portion disposed between, and connecting, the first end and the second end of the rake spring. 
     
     
         9 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein an end of the upper jacket contacts the curved portion of the rake spring in response to an impact force resulting in translation of the upper jacket away from the extended column position and the first end of the spring disengages from the column mounting bracket in response to the end of the upper jacket contacting the curved portion of the spring. 
     
     
         10 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein an end of the upper jacket contacts the second end of the spring in response to an impact force resulting in translation of the upper jacket away from the extended column position. 
     
     
         11 . The steering column assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first end of the spring disengages from the column mounting bracket in response to the end of the upper jacket contacting the second end of the spring. 
     
     
         12 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the spring moves relative to the column mounting bracket when the first end of the spring disengages from the column mounting bracket. 
     
     
         13 . A steering column assembly, comprising:
 a column jacket defining a hollow cavity therein;   a bracket connected to the column jacket; and   a rake spring extending from a first end to a second end, wherein at least a portion of the rake spring is disposed within the hollow cavity of the column jacket.   
     
     
         14 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 13 , further comprising a hand wheel actuator and an adaptor, the hand wheel actuator being disposed between the column jacket and a steering input device, the adaptor being operatively coupled to the hand wheel actuator and disposed between the hand wheel actuator and the column jacket. 
     
     
         15 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein the adaptor contacts the second end of the rake spring in response to an impact force on the column jacket. 
     
     
         16 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the first end of the rake spring disengages from the bracket in response to the adaptor contacting the second end of the rake spring. 
     
     
         17 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein the rake spring moves with the adaptor when the first end of the rake spring disengages from the bracket. 
     
     
         18 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 15 , wherein the rake spring deforms in response to the impact force. 
     
     
         19 . The steering column assembly according to  claim 13 , wherein the rake spring includes a curved portion disposed between, and connecting, the first end and the second end of the rake spring.